Jahvaree Ritzie
{{Short description|American football player}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Jahvaree Ritzie
|image=UNC vs Central 2024 - 045 (cropped).jpg
|caption=Ritzie with the North Carolina Tar Heels in 2024
|currentteam=New England Patriots
|number=93
|position=Defensive tackle
|birth_date={{birth date and age|2003|1|31}}
|birth_place= Kernersville, North Carolina, U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=4
|weight_lb=294
|high_school=Glenn (Kernersville)
|college=North Carolina (2021–2024)
|undraftedyear=2025
|pastteams=
- New England Patriots ({{nfly|2025}}–present)
|status=Active
|highlights=
}}
Jahvaree Ritzie (born January 31, 2003) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Early life
Ritzie attended Robert B. Glenn High School in Kernersville, North Carolina. He was rated as a four-star recruit and committed to play college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels over other schools such as Georgia, South Carolina, Ohio State, and Tennessee.{{cite web |last1=Ferlise |first1=Patrick |title=UNC football gets commitment from 4-star Winston-Salem DE Jahvaree Ritzie |url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/article243517592.html |website=Charlotte Observer |access-date=4 November 2024}}
College career
In his first three collegiate seasons from 2021 to 2023, Ritzie appeared in 39 games for the Tar Heels, where he totaled 98 tackles with five being for a loss, two and a half sacks, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble, for North Carolina.{{cite web |title=Jahvaree Ritzie |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jahvaree-ritzie-1.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=4 November 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Fowler |first1=Chapel |title=Which true freshmen could play for UNC football against Virginia Tech? Jahvaree Ritzie leads the list |url=https://www.fayobserver.com/story/sports/college/football/2021/09/01/unc-football-virginia-tech-freshmen-watch-jahvaree-ritzie-caleb-hood/5665217001/ |website=The Fayetteville Observer |date=1 September 2021 |access-date=4 November 2024}} In the 2024 season opener, he notched three sacks in a win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers and was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) defensive lineman of the week.{{cite web |last1=Koh |first1=Michael |title=UNC's Jahvaree Ritzie, Noah Burnette Named ACC's Players of the Week |url=https://chapelboro.com/sports/uncs-jahvaree-ritzie-noah-burnette-named-accs-players-of-the-week |website=Chapelboro.com |date=3 September 2024 |access-date=4 November 2024}} In week 9, Ritzie intercepted a pass which he returned 84 yards for a touchdown, while also notching a tackle for a loss and a sack, in a win over the Virginia Cavaliers.{{cite web |last1=Alexander |first1=Chip |title=Who was that in No. 5 running 84 yards for a touchdown? UNC's Jahvaree Ritzie? |url=https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article294467904.html |website=News & Observer |access-date=4 November 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 1/4
| weight = 294
| dash = 5.02
| ten split = 1.70
| twenty split = 2.81
| vertical = 36.0
| broad ft = 9
| broad in = 6
| bench = 26
| arm span = 33 1/4
| hand span = 10 1/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jahvaree-ritzie/32005249-5479-2190-7d94-3ac8a181aeb3 |title=Jahvaree Ritzie Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=February 28, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1053074&DraftYear=2025 |title=Jahvaree Ritzie College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=February 28, 2025}}
}}
On May 9, 2025, Ritzie signed with the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent after going unselected in the 2025 NFL draft.{{cite web |title=Patriots Sign Eight of Their 11 2025 Draft Picks and 16 Rookie Free Agents |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-eight-of-their-11-2025-draft-picks-and-16-rookie-free-agents |website=Patriots.com |access-date=10 May 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.patriots.com/team/players-roster/jahvaree-ritzie/ New England Patriots bio]
- [https://goheels.com/sports/football/roster/jahvaree-ritzie/25624 North Carolina Tar Heels bio]
{{New England Patriots roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ritzie, Jahvaree}}
Category:People from Kernersville, North Carolina
Category:Players of American football from North Carolina
Category:Players of American football from Forsyth County, North Carolina
Category:American football defensive tackles